The Fresh Lime Margarita is built from scratch — no shortcuts. Fresh-pressed lime juice, Top Hat Agave Nectar, and your spirit of choice batched in a 5-gallon Cornelius keg and pressurized on N₂. Clean, bright, and dangerously good on draft.
This is the scratch-built version — fresh lime juice carries all the citrus, and Top Hat Agave Nectar provides the agave backbone and sweetness. Fine strain your lime juice before batching to keep the keg line clean and the pour consistent. Use a dehydrated lime wheel as a garnish to elevate the presentation.
Batch Method
- Fine strain fresh lime juice to remove pulp and seeds. Measure 4 qts.
- Add 5 liters Tequila (or spirit alternative) to a clean 5-gallon Cornelius keg.
- Add 4 qts fine-strained fresh lime juice.
- Add 4 qts Top Hat Agave Nectar.
- Add 6 qts cold filtered water.
- Seal the keg and shake vigorously side to side for 2 full minutes.
- Pressurize with N₂. See instructions below.
- Refrigerate minimum 4 hours before first service. Overnight preferred.
- Serve ~6 oz over ice. Garnish with a sliced lime or dehydrated lime wheel.
- Reshake twice daily to re-integrate ingredients.
Pro tip: Fresh lime juice has a short window — this keg is best within 72 hours of batching. Squeeze day-of for the brightest flavor. A dehydrated lime wheel is a zero-waste, premium presentation upgrade that holds up all service without wilting.
- Seal the keg and shake vigorously side to side for 2 full minutes.
- Connect gray/silver Cornelius "gas in" connector to GAS IN plug on keg lid.
- Set N₂ regulator to 12–15 psi.
- Pull up pressure release ring 3 times quickly to cycle gas through keg.
- Test flow. Reduce to 10–12 psi if pouring too fast.
- Reshake twice daily before service to re-integrate all ingredients.